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UEP will no longer push hen housing bill

United Egg Producers say they are no longer going to try to get Congress to pass a national hen housing and welfare bill. UEP president, Chad Gregory says now that the Farm Bill has passed the organization is going to focus on “delivering much-needed business certainty to the nation’s egg farmers.”

The United Egg Producers said it would not renew its Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the animal rights activist group, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), which was the genesis for the proposed federal legislation.

Gregory says they will continue to work with other stakeholders “with hopes of achieving a workable solution to transition the industry toward enriched colony facilities in a manner and time frame that best suits egg farmer members.”

Both UEP and the HSUS declined to be interviewed by Brownfield for this story.

The United Egg Producers provided the following statements from Chad Gregory, CEO of United Egg Producers:

HSUS Relationship

“United Egg producers (UEP) and HSUS have agreed not to extend their MOU or any formal connection that existed up until now. With the Farm Bill debate concluded, UEP is now focused on exploring a range of options with the objective of delivering much-needed business certainty to America’s egg farmers. We remain dedicated to partnering with members, allies and other stakeholders in hope of achieving a workable solution of transitioning the industry towards Enriched Colony housing in a manner and timeframe that best suits our egg farmer members.”

Egg Bill

“United Egg Producers (UEP) has discontinued efforts to pass the Egg Bill, as the organization now turns its focus towards exploring a range of options with the objective of delivering much-needed business certainty to America’s egg farmers. Enriched colony housing represents the future of this vibrant industry and we are encouraged to see these contemporary houses being constructed throughout the United States. We remain dedicated to partnering with members, allies and other stakeholders in hope of achieving a workable solution of transitioning the industry towards Enriched Colony facilities in a manner and timeframe that best suits our egg farmer members.”